Childhood fades away, but its magical imprint lives on in our hearts and dreams. Years later, we witness younger generations unfold the mystery of life.
This is the theme explored in Jai Agnish’s latest single, “Take Me Back There,” a nostalgic voyage through backyard childhood memories powered by dreamy synth hooks.
The release is the second single in as many months from the indie-pop musician from Montclair, N.J. and follows up last month’s “Free of This Disease,” – a song also soaked in atmospheric melodies and beats.
Agnish wrote, performed, and recorded “Take Me Back There” and teamed up with Daniel Smith (Danielson, Sufjan Stevens), who mixed the song. The fellow Garden State dweller runs Familyre Studio out of Clarksboro, N.J.
The cover art for the song features the only known family photograph taken in the “dugout” up behind Agnish’s childhood home. The “dugout” was a large area in the woods cleared out for a housing development that was ultimately abandoned. The area conveniently served as a giant playground for Agnish and his siblings and childhood friends. Here they would ride bikes, build forts, dig caves, and sled ride in the winter.
Agnish sings: “In the backyard by the stream, there’s a bridge that leads to the woods and the fun things. This was our world, our oasis, our magic place, and our own space. Discovering beauty and life in the chase of the fun and the mysteries. These childhood moments of my life I won’t ever forget.”
lyrics
In the backyard by the stream, there’s a bridge that leads to the woods and the fun things.
This was our world, our oasis, our magic place. And our own space.
Discovering beauty and life in the chase of the fun and the mysteries.
These childhood moments of my life I won’t ever forget. Ever forget.
Your eyes take me back there. Take me back. Take me back there. Take me back.
As we got older and saw more of the world, things would change.
This magical place that we knew it faded away. It faded away.
It lives in my heart and my dreams, and the people I see around me.
Discovering beauty and life in the chase of the fun and the mysteries.
Your eyes take me back there. Take me back. Take me back there. Take me back.
Rise and fall in this new age. It happens now. It happens now.
In the backyard by the stream. It lives in my heart, in my dreams.
credits
released August 26, 2021
Written, performed, produced, and engineered by: Jai Agnish
Mixed by: Daniel Smith
Mastered by: Dave Downham
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